viii

his hands for suit, is binding upon the State, and releases
the debt, has been productive of much trouble and difficulty,
and this Department has, therefore, endeavored, as far as possi-
ble, to correct this opinion.

AUCTION DUTIES.

The returns made by the several Auctioneers in the City of
Baltimore, daring the fiscal year, amounted in the aggregate to
$16,886.73, as appears in Statement No. 11.

In accordance with Chapter 266 of the Acts  of 1853, the

proceeds of these Auction Duties are appropriated  to the Mayor

and City Council of Baltimore, for the purpose  of deepening

the channel in the Chesapeake Bay and Patapsco  River, below
Fort McHenry.

BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL ROAD COMPANY.

The amount of the State's proportion of the receipts on
the Washington Branch of this Road, in the fiscal year, was
$73,059.08, an increase as compared with the receipts in the
fiscal year ending the 30th of September 1855, of $5,086.69.

During the same period, the State received from this Com-
pany on Road Stock for dividends $67,315, being an increase
over the preceding year of $31,565. Of the sum received
$20,565, was for the "Main Stem," and $46,750, for the "Wash-
ington Branch." These figures indicate the rapidly increasing
prosperity of this magnificent Road.

SUSQUEHANNA AND TIDE-WATER CANAL COM-
PANIES.

By Statement No. 10, it appears that these Companies
paid, during the fiscal year, $70,812.20; of which sum $67,-
100 was on account of current interest, and $3,712.20, on ac-
count of interest on the unfunded debt due by the said Com-
panies.

NORTHERN CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY.

Within the fiscal year the State has received into the Treasury
the sum of $90,000, paid by this Company in fulfillment of its
obligations under chapter 260 of 1854.

TOBACCO INSPECTIONS.

By an examination of Statement No. 11, the gross receipts
from State Tobacco Inspections in Baltimore, will be found
to have been, in the year ended on the 30th of September last,
$56,568.91, (being $6,450.89 less than those of the preced-